Genesis 21
1 Yahweh was very kind to Sarah, just as he said he would be. He did for Sarah exactly what he promised to do.
The Lord came to help Sarah as he'd said he would. The Lord did for Sarah what he'd promised.
2 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son for Abraham when he was very old, at the time God promised it would happen.
She became pregnant and had a son for Abraham when he was old, at the exact time God said she would.
3 Abraham gave the name ‘Isaac’ (which means ‘he laughs’) to the son Sarah gave birth to.
Abraham named their son Isaac.
4 Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when his son was eight days old, just as God commanded him to do.
Abraham circumcised him when Isaac was eight days old, following God's command.
5 Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born.
Abraham was 100 when Isaac was born.
6 And Sarah said, “[Although I was sad before because I did not have any children], God has now enabled me to laugh, and everyone who hears about what God has done for me will laugh with me.”
Sarah declared, “God has made me laugh, and all those who hear about this will laugh with me.”
7 Then she also said, “No one would have said to Abraham that some day Sarah would nurse a child, but I have given birth to a son when Abraham is very old.”
She also said, “Would anyone have announced to Abraham that Sarah was going to have children to nurse? But now I have had a son for Abraham even when he was old!”
8 The baby grew and was weaned [when he was about three years old]. On that day, Abraham prepared a large feast to celebrate.
The baby grew up, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a large feast.
9 ([One day/During the feast)] Sarah noticed that Hagar’s son Ishmael was (making fun of/playing with) Isaac.
But Sarah noticed that Ishmael, Hagar the Egyptian's son she'd had for Abraham, was making fun of Isaac.
10 So she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman from Egypt and her son! I do not want the son of that slave woman to be alone (OR, to be an heir along with) my son, Isaac!”
So she went to Abraham and told him, “You have to get rid of this slave woman and this son of hers! A slave woman's son is not going to be one of your heirs and inherit together with my son Isaac!”
11 Abraham was very distressed about the matter, because he was concerned about his son [Ishmael].
Abraham felt very bad about it because Ishmael was his son.
12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about your son, Ishmael, and about your maidservant, Hagar. Do everything that Sarah tells you to do. Listen to her, because Isaac is the one who will be considered the ancestor of the descendants I promised to give you.
But God told Abraham, “Don't feel bad about the boy and the slave woman. Do whatever Sarah tells you, because it's through Isaac that your descendants will be counted.
13 But I will also cause the son of your maidservant to be the ancestor of the people of a great nation [MTY], because he is also your son.”
Don't worry—I will also make the son of the slave woman into a nation because he's your son.”
14 So Abraham got up early the next morning. He got some food ready, put water in a container, and gave them to Hagar. He put them [in a bag] on her shoulder and sent them away. They wandered in the desert near Beersheba [town].
Abraham got up early the next morning. He packed up some food and a skin of water which he gave to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder. Then he sent her and the boy away. She left and wandered through the Desert of Beersheba.
15 After they had drunk all the water in the container, she put her son under one of the bushes there.
When the water ran out, she left the boy under one of the bushes.
16 Then she went and sat nearby, about (as far as someone can shoot an arrow/100 meters away), because she thought, “I cannot endure seeing my son die!” As she sat there, she began to cry [loudly] [MTY].
She went and sat down some way off, a few hundred yards away, saying, “I can't bear to watch my son die!” As she sat down she burst into tears.
17 [The boy was crying too.] And God heard the boy crying. So he caused one of his angels to call out from heaven to Hagar, saying, “Hagar, are you worried about something? Do not be afraid, because God has heard the boy crying there.
God heard the boy's cries, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and asked her, “What's the matter, Hagar? Don't be afraid! God has heard the boy crying from where he is.
18 Help your son up, and hold his hand as you leave, because I will cause his descendants to become a great nation.”
Get up, go over and help the boy up, and encourage him, for I will make him into a great nation.”
19 Then God showed her a well of water. So she went to the well and filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink.
God opened her eyes and she saw a well nearby. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
20 God helped the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became a good (archer/man who hunts with bow and arrows).
God blessed Ishmael and he grew up, living in the desert. He became a skilled archer.
21 He lived in Paran Desert. While e was there, Hagar got a wife for him from Egypt.
He lived in the Desert of Paran. His mother chose a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
22 At that time, [King] Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, “It is clear that God helps you with everything that you do.
Around this time Abimelech came with Phicol, the commander of his army, to see Abraham. “God blesses you in everything you do,” Abimelech said.
23 So now (solemnly promise/swear) to me here, as God is listening, that you will (not deceive/act fairly to) me and my children and my descendants, in return for my being kind to you. Be kind to me and to all the people here in the country where you are now living.”
“So swear to me right here and now that you won't betray me, my children, or my descendants. In the same way I've proved I'm trustworthy to you, do the same to me and my country where you're currently living.”
24 So Abraham promised to do that.
“I so swear,” Abraham replied.
25 [Then] Abraham complained to Abimelech about one of Abraham’s wells that Abimelech’s servants had seized.
Then Abraham raised an issue with Abimelech of a well that Abimelech's servants had taken by force.
26 But Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done that. You did not tell me previously, and I did not hear about it until today.”
“I don't know who did this, and you didn't mention it before. I haven't heard anything about it until today,” Abimelech responded.
27 So Abraham brought some sheep and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a (treaty/peace agreement).
Then Abraham gave Abimelech some of his sheep and cattle, and the two of them made an agreement.
28 Abraham separated seven female lambs from his flock.
Abraham also separated out seven female lambs from the flock.
29 Abimelech asked Abraham, “What are these seven female lambs that you have separated from the rest of your flock?”
“What are these seven female lambs for that you've separated from the flock?” Abimelech asked.
30 Abraham replied, “I want you truly to accept these female lambs from me [SYN], so that it may be a (public witness/proof) that this well belongs to me because I dug it.”
“I'm giving you these seven female lambs in return for your admission that I dug this well,” Abraham replied.
31 So Abimelech accepted the animals, and as a result they called that place Beersheba, [which means ‘Friendship Agreement Well’, ] because there the two of them made that agreement.
That's why he called the place Beersheba, because the two of them swore and oath to each other.
32 After they made the agreement at Beersheba, Abimelech and his army commander, Phicol, left, and returned to the land of the Philistine people-group.
After making the agreement at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army left and went home to the country of the Philistines.
33 Abraham planted a (tamarisk tree/kind of tree called esel) there, and he worshiped the eternal God there.
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and there he worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God.
34 Abraham lived in the land of the Philistine people-group for a long time.
Abraham lived in the country of the Philistines for a long time.
